Pet Articles

Normal Dog Behaviour

Problems

The symbiosis between man and dog goes all the way back to the earliest days of human evolution. Both were governed by a complex social hierarchy, living in groups, bands or packs. Both were hunters, and they survived thanks to their spirited nature. They were not physically powerful, but they found strength in numbers. For man, the dog’s keen senses were, and still are invaluable. The dog guarded man’s territory and detected, hunted and carried game. Later, the dog became a shepherd. Then man began to select and cross existing breeds, to make them larger or smaller, and create new breeds to perform more specific and complicated tasks, such as detecting drugs, assisting the visually impaired, tracking criminals or finding victims of natural disasters.

Man has a unique and extremely old relationship with the dog. From the beginning, the dog was given various jobs to do in exchange for food, shelter, companionship and care. But that’s not the case today. These days, our dogs are unemployed!!!

We must bear in mind that urinating, defecating, jumping, barking, guarding his food, reproducing, protecting his territory, chewing and nipping are all NATURAL and NORMAL canine behaviours. They pose a problem when they interfere with human rules or when they occur in an unacceptable environment. Such behaviours are entirely natural and are the result of no training, poor communication, genetics or lack of motivation and exercise. Natural or not, they can be disagreeable, inappropriate or misplaced to humans.

The solution to managing behavioural problems lies in knowing to read the dog, giving him a job to do (training), understanding his normal behaviours and knowing what tools are available to change behaviours.

Nevertheless, the most effective and positive approach is PREVENTION! By choosing the right breed, from a conscientious breeder, and by consistently socializing and educating your dog, using an approach that focuses on coaching and supervision and a training style that develops teamwork and mutual assistance, you will be guaranteed that your best friend is well behaved.

2 Responses to this Article, So Far

My dog loves to lay on my blanket and pillows on my couch. The moment i get up, he sneaks off his spot (he has his own blanket and pillow on another couch) and proceeds to get in my comfy spot. He is an American Pit Bull Terrier. Is there a reason he does this?